StartupBlink

24 Top startups in Derby for June 2026

We rank HUUB Design, East Midlands Railway and Playtonic Games in Derby along with 21 other startups based on an algorithm that scores startups based on total investment, employee count, and quarterly website traffic. Derby startup ecosystem ranks #667 globally and #48 in United Kingdom.

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Best Startups in Derby for 2026

SB Score:358

East Midlands Trains (EMT) is a passenger train operating company operating in the United Kingdom. Based in Derby, it provides train services in the East Midlands and surrounding areas, chiefly in the counties of Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Northamptonshire. The franchise, which began 11 November 2007, was formed through the amalgamation of the former Midland Mainline, which operated inter-city services from London to Yorkshire, and the eastern side of Central Trains operating companies.

Industry:
Transportation
Subindustry:
Logistics

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SB Score:322

Playtonic Games is an independent game developer founded by a team of veteran game designers. Playtonic Games are an independent videogame developer, started by the creative talent behind some of the most popular platform games of the past (including Donkey Kong Country and Banjo-Kazooie). Our aim is to bring fun games that everyone loves to play to new and old audiences alike across multiple platforms!

Industry:
Social & Leisure
Subindustry:
Entertainment

City Rank (Derby)

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SB Score:292

Project D is a disruptive doughnut retailer and manufacturer which specialises in handcrafted premium doughnuts. Founded in 2018 by 3 friends with a shared passion for all things sweet, Project D has grown from an idea to a nationwide doughnut movement. We’re on a mission to create the world’s best doughnut! We currently manufacture and sell over 2,000,000 doughnuts a year In our recent history we have grown a huge social media following of over 450,000 users across Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Industry:
Foodtech
Subindustry:
Food and Beverage

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SB Score:285

PlayerLands is a VC backed payment engine for video games. For server owners, developers and publishers they provide shopfronts to sell in-game items to players. Unlike some other providers you may have come across, you should find their service very straightforward: it’s easy to deploy, requires zero technical skill, and has all the payment partners you need pre-integrated, so there’s no messing about with APIs. You’ll also find the way their stores look and feel makes a big difference to player interaction. Store fronts work with your branding and artwork, appear beautifully on mobile (they know players love having a second screen open) and come with automatic protection against fraud and chargebacks. They don’t stop there though. They want to help make your games as successful as they possibly can, because your success is also theirs. They will be supplying useful tips, and tools to help you find new players and market your games and stores as widely as possible. Knowing how to accelerate growth and make the most of your IP is a skill they want to share. They are going to be announcing a number of exciting developments that will make PlayerLands a one-stop shop for monetising your games, and they can’t wait to get started. For players, they will be a resource for securely buying items in the games you love, and a way of finding new ones you may not have come across. They will also keep your money secure, and let you see everything you’ve bought in one handy page.

Industry:
Ecommerce & Retail
Subindustry:
Ecommerce

City Rank (Derby)

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SB Score:219

Innovate Recycle, based in central England, has developed a clean, green and unique, mechanical process to extract high-quality substances from waste carpet that can be used to make a wide range of new products.

Industry:
Hardware & IoT
Subindustry:
Manufacturing

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SB Score:198

VRCO has a vision for a flying car with a new form of personal aircraft as the initial phase. It is a showcase for British innovation with advanced lightweight composites enhanced with graphene nano materials. The vertical take-off and landing craft will be capable of carrying 180 kgs or two people. It features detection and avoidance technology with safety measures including a ballistic parachute and low altitude crash prevention systems. Working with leading innovators and key industry partners at the forefront of the UK’s power storage systems, the craft will be fast-charging and have enhanced range.

Industry:
Transportation
Subindustry:
Aerospace

City Rank (Derby)

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SB Score:191

APP4FOOD is a mobile app solution that empowers restaurants and food outlets to directly engage with customers. With features like food menus, table bookings, takeaway ordering, and secure payments, businesses have full control over their app's content and appearance.

Industry:
Foodtech
Subindustry:
Food Manufacturing

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SB Score:174

Digit Music was founded to promote diversity and inclusion in the music and creative industries. Digit Music hopes to broaden access to the transformative impact of music making and instrument playing with the aid of the Innovate UK Inclusive Innovation Award.

Industry:
Marketing & Sales
Subindustry:
Content Marketing

City Rank (Derby)

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SB Score:170

The Work Wallet platform gives you the tools and information to ensure that in real-time, you're on top of Health and Safety for your sites, staff and contractors, therefore helping you stay safe and operational.

Industry:
Hardware & IoT
Subindustry:
Hardware

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SB Score:121

PKF Smith Cooper Systems provides consultancy and support for Sage 50 and Sage 200 business software. We also provide and support various add-ons for both products to assist with more specific business requirements like web integration, paperless document distribution/filing, and Point of Sale/Trade Counter.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Software

City Rank (Derby)

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Total amount:24

Top 5 Software & Data Startups in Derby for 2026

Derby startup ecosystem is currently unranked globally for the Software & Data industry.

PKF Smith Cooper Systems provides consultancy and support for Sage 50 and Sage 200 business software. We also provide and support various add-ons for both products to assist with more specific business requirements like web integration, paperless document distribution/filing, and Point of Sale/Trade Counter.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Software

City Rank (Derby)

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SB Score:100

Human Made is a prestigious WordPress consultancy with a global reach, specializing in developing high-end websites and SaaS products for WordPress developers and the restaurant industry. They are one of only two companies outside the US recognized as a WordPress.com VIP Partner.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
SaaS

City Rank (Derby)

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Regional Rank (Western Europe)

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SB Score:73

Huntley Ford is proud to be your trusted, knowledgeable, family-owned dealership providing special offers on both new and used Ford vehicles. Huntley Ford also offers routine auto maintenance services by expert technicians with its Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Artificial Intelligence

City Rank (Derby)

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Regional Rank (Western Europe)

0

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Total amount:5

Top 4 Hardware & IoT Startups in Derby for 2026

The top three Hardware & IoT startups in Derby have raised more than USD 3.72M. Derby startup ecosystem is currently unranked globally for the Hardware & IoT industry.
SB Score:219

Innovate Recycle, based in central England, has developed a clean, green and unique, mechanical process to extract high-quality substances from waste carpet that can be used to make a wide range of new products.

Industry:
Hardware & IoT
Subindustry:
Manufacturing

City Rank (Derby)

0

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Regional Rank (Western Europe)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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SB Score:170

The Work Wallet platform gives you the tools and information to ensure that in real-time, you're on top of Health and Safety for your sites, staff and contractors, therefore helping you stay safe and operational.

Industry:
Hardware & IoT
Subindustry:
Hardware

City Rank (Derby)

0

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Regional Rank (Western Europe)

0

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SB Score:89

Formed in 2017 through the merger of the combined assets of Telemisis and Tioga, Simpatica was created to accelerate the commercialisation of hardware-centric technology. Leveraging the group’s combined assets and expertise in development, manufacturing, operations, sales, and marketing, Simpatica aims to drive synergies between the existing group companies and nurture partnerships with academia and businesses; supporting them to develop their ideas into commercially viable products. Through our product and service companies, the group’s activities span a range of sectors, including: - Electronics Manufacturing Services - Industrial Internet of Things - Medical Devices - Security and Defence

Industry:
Hardware & IoT
Subindustry:
Consumer Electronics

City Rank (Derby)

0

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Regional Rank (Western Europe)

0

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0

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Total amount:4

Top 3 Transportation Startups in Derby for 2026

The top three Transportation startups in Derby have raised more than USD 230K. Derby startup ecosystem is currently unranked globally for the Transportation industry.
SB Score:174

Digit Music was founded to promote diversity and inclusion in the music and creative industries. Digit Music hopes to broaden access to the transformative impact of music making and instrument playing with the aid of the Innovate UK Inclusive Innovation Award.

Industry:
Marketing & Sales
Subindustry:
Content Marketing

City Rank (Derby)

0

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Regional Rank (Western Europe)

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SB Score:29

ConnectNow is a web-based chat and routing platform that directs customer queries to agents using skills-based rules. The system supports chat transfers with full history, conferencing between agents, and canned responses. It includes keyword search, a pre-step wizard for self-service, and real-time monitoring via a wallboard showing service status and statistics. ConnectNow integrates with IT service management tools and offers a REST API for custom use. Additional features include system alerts, filtered word detection, and the ability for customers to resume previous chats.

Industry:
Marketing & Sales
Subindustry:
Digital Marketing

City Rank (Derby)

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Regional Rank (Western Europe)

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SB Score:24

Clickthroo allows marketers to easily build and test landing pages that dynamically change based on who the user is and what they are looking for.

Industry:
Marketing & Sales
Subindustry:
Adtech

City Rank (Derby)

0

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Regional Rank (Western Europe)

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Total amount:3

Most Funded Startups in Derby for 2026

The top three most funded startups in Derby have raised total funding of more than USD 8.35M. Innovate Recycle has 0.14% more funding than Playtonic Games.
SB Score:219

Innovate Recycle, based in central England, has developed a clean, green and unique, mechanical process to extract high-quality substances from waste carpet that can be used to make a wide range of new products.

Industry:
Hardware & IoT
Subindustry:
Manufacturing

City Rank (Derby)

0

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Regional Rank (Western Europe)

0

View

Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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SB Score:322

Playtonic Games is an independent game developer founded by a team of veteran game designers. Playtonic Games are an independent videogame developer, started by the creative talent behind some of the most popular platform games of the past (including Donkey Kong Country and Banjo-Kazooie). Our aim is to bring fun games that everyone loves to play to new and old audiences alike across multiple platforms!

Industry:
Social & Leisure
Subindustry:
Entertainment

City Rank (Derby)

0

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Regional Rank (Western Europe)

0

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Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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Total amount:24

Top Hiring Startups in Derby by Employee Number

The top three hiring startups in Derby have an median employee size that is between [101-250]
SB Score:358

East Midlands Trains (EMT) is a passenger train operating company operating in the United Kingdom. Based in Derby, it provides train services in the East Midlands and surrounding areas, chiefly in the counties of Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Northamptonshire. The franchise, which began 11 November 2007, was formed through the amalgamation of the former Midland Mainline, which operated inter-city services from London to Yorkshire, and the eastern side of Central Trains operating companies.

Industry:
Transportation
Subindustry:
Logistics

City Rank (Derby)

0

View

Regional Rank (Western Europe)

0

View

Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

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SB Score:292

Project D is a disruptive doughnut retailer and manufacturer which specialises in handcrafted premium doughnuts. Founded in 2018 by 3 friends with a shared passion for all things sweet, Project D has grown from an idea to a nationwide doughnut movement. We’re on a mission to create the world’s best doughnut! We currently manufacture and sell over 2,000,000 doughnuts a year In our recent history we have grown a huge social media following of over 450,000 users across Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

Industry:
Foodtech
Subindustry:
Food and Beverage

City Rank (Derby)

0

View

Regional Rank (Western Europe)

0

View

Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

Browse
View full page

PKF Smith Cooper Systems provides consultancy and support for Sage 50 and Sage 200 business software. We also provide and support various add-ons for both products to assist with more specific business requirements like web integration, paperless document distribution/filing, and Point of Sale/Trade Counter.

Industry:
Software & Data
Subindustry:
Software

City Rank (Derby)

0

View

Regional Rank (Western Europe)

0

View

Global Rank (WorldWide)

0

Browse
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Total amount:24

Explore the Startup Ecosystem of Derby

National Rank

(United Kingdom)

48th

new

Regional Rank

(Western Europe)

256th

53

Global Rank

(WorldWide)

667th

32

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Top Cities for Startups in United Kingdom - Ranked by StartupBlink

StartupBlink ranks the startup ecosystems of more than 100 countries and 1,000 cities. Download our latest Global Startup Ecosystem Report.
2026 National Rank CityGlobal RankTotal ScoreAnnual Growth

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